Chicken Growth & Development

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Day 1 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Poster developed by Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County. Photos by Cole Meador and Vicki Jedlicka.

Week 4 / Month 1 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7

Week 8 / Month 2 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11

Week 12 / Month 3 Month 4 Month 5

White Leghorn Hybrid Pullet

Month 6

Down covers the body. Egg tooth on the beak falls off

in about a day.

Around 3 days, chicks start growing feathers called primary feathers

on their wings.

The body is fully covered by feathers.

Cockerels combs (on top of head) and wattles (under beak) start

to grow larger than pullets.

Pullets combs start to get larger and turn red (some flop over).

Hen is fully grown and starts to lay eggs.

Less than 6 months old

6 months old or older

Female Pullet HenMale Cockerel Cock (Rooster)

TERMS

Primary feathers start growing on their body and tail.

Males start learning to crow. Secondary feathers start replacing primary feathers.

Funding provided by the Poultry and Egg Division, Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

CockerelCockerel

PulletPullet CockerelCockerel

Egg toothEgg tooth DownDownPrimary Primary feathersfeathers

Secondary Secondary feathersfeathers

PulletPullet

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